Improvement in ice runs



PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT BURHANS, OF RONDOUT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ICE RUNS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,802, dated J nly 11, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GILBERT BUREANs, of Rondout, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ice-Run; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forining part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the ope "ation of delivering ice from large store-houses into barges or boats; and it consists in a jointed section on the end of the run-way, constructed and arranged to operate as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the runway in nearly a horizontal position, with a block of ice ready to be delivered into a barge beneath. Fig. 2 is a section of a barge, showing the runway dropped down and the ice leaving it. Fin'. 3 is a top or plan view.

Similar letters of reference indica-te corresponding parts.

A is the run-way, supported from the frame B by means of the weight C, in th'e usual manner. The run-ways are made in sections, so that they may be made longer or shorter to deliver the ice in an empty or a nearly-filled barge. They are always jointed, as seen at I),- so-that when the ice has been run out of the store-house and down onto the run-way, as seen'in Fig. 1, the attendant will loosen the brake E on the brake? wheel F, which will allow the ice to overcome the weight G, and descend with the run-way, and be delivered into the barge. I The ice is apt to slide from the run-way with too much rapidity as therun-way descends, and various devices have been resorted to for the purpose of retarding it in its descent, but no convenient and unobjectionablc plan has hitherto been adopted The present invention consists `in a device for this purpose. H is a short section attached to the end of the run-way by means of a pivot-rod,

as seen in Fig. 25. The rod passes through the sides I I of the section and under the slats J and R. The upper cross-Slat ofthe section acts as a stop to hold the section parallel with the run, as seen in Fig. 1. L L are cleats of wedgeshape,.whose butt-ends project above the slats of the run and stop theice, as seen in Fig. 1. I hen the run-way descends the block of ice remains on the run until the end of the section H strikes the delivering block N. This contact throws the section H into the position seen in Fig. 2, which throws the cleats L below the slats J and allows the ice to slide ott'. IVhen the ice is delivered the weight G raises the riui up to its former horizontal position. I

It is designed to have the run so balanced by the weight G that when the blocks of ice slide onto the run singly the action will be automatic. Should more than one block slide down the run .at the same time the brake is applied and operated as before stated. j

By this improvement the blocks of ice may be delivered with great rapidity without danger of breaking and with far less labor than heretofore.

-Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In combination with an ice-run, the jointed section H provided with cleats or stops, one or more, substantially as and for the purposes described.

The above specilication ofmy invention signed by me this 1st day of May, 1871.

GILBERT BURHANS.

Witnesses S. D. GOYKENDALL, S. PENNIMAN. 

